Best events for kids this weekend in New York City

Best free events over the Thanksgiving holiday

Macy's windows

It’s here! When Santa flies in on his brand-new sleigh at the end of the Thanksgiving Day parade, the holiday season officially begins. Of course, it already seems to have been going on for weeks: A host of holiday fairs are now open for business, holiday shows are kicking up their heels, and new department store displays are constantly debuting—this week, Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman unveiled their festive windows. Unfortunately, Kris Kringle doesn’t arrive solo; he brings the tourists with him. If you’re entertaining out-of-towners this holiday, be sure to check out our visitors’ guide, which is chock-full of offbeat activities and destinations conveniently located near tourist hot spots. Meanwhile, if you’re looking to keep busy on a budget over this four-day Thanksgiving break, be thankful for all the free activities.

FREE After Macy’s main event on Thursday, head to the Pond at Bryant Park for free ice-skating before you sit down to dinner. (Think of it as working off the turkey in advance.) Prospect Park’s Wollman Rink also opens for the season on Thursday, and while admission isn’t free, it’s minimal: $5 for adults, $3 for kids under 15.

FREE The Rockefeller Center Tree won’t be lit until next Wednesday, December 2, but the South Street Seaport’s 50-foot Douglas fir will be illuminated on Friday. Gordon from Sesame Street, kiddie-music duo Princess Katie & Racer Steve, the Big Apple Chorus and Saint Nick himself will be on hand to celebrate.

FREE Although the long-running Station at Citigroup Center won’t be back this year, there are other free train displays to keep your kids’ engines running, such as the Grand Central Holiday Train Show at the New York City Transit Museum Annex and Lionel Trains’ first-ever pop-up store in Rockefeller Center.

FREE Chelsea’s Books of Wonder is throwing a literary-star-studded holiday bash on Saturday, with readings by Caldecott Honor–winning artist Jerry Pinkney and Pulitzer winner Art Spiegelman.

FREE The Traveling Lantern Theatre Company presents its take on The Sword in the Stone at the New York Public Library’s Children's Center in Midtown West on Saturday.

FREE Find out how 19th-century folks spent winter on a Flatbush farm at Prospect Park’s Lefferts Historic House all weekend. Santa drops by on Sunday!

FREE If you hit Bryant Park for ice-skating or shopping, take a break at Le Carrousel. Beginning this weekend, Flaubert Frog (a.k.a. well-known storyteller Dan Kitrosser) will regale kids with tales every Saturday at 1pm, while masterful magicians will trick audiences every Sunday at 1pm through the end of the year.

FREE | SATURDAY | SUNDAY